Substitute Teachers In Orange Eye Union

Health-insurance, Job-security Concerns Push Effort

Substitute teachers in Orange County may try to form a union, which would likely be a first of its kind in Florida.

The Orange County Substitute Teachers Association will ask substitutes to vote next month on whether they want to apply to the state for union status.

Among the issues are health insurance and job security, said Millie McBee, president of the organization.

Substitute teachers have little recourse if they are barred from working in the school system, even if they think the action was unjustified, McBee said.

Substitutes need health insurance because many work the equivalent of a full-time job in the school system, she said.

Pay is not an issue, McBee said. Substitutes earn $65 to $80 a day.

The proposed union would be independent and initially serve 500 substitutes who worked the most hours last school year, McBee said. One-third of that number, or 150, must vote to apply for union status with the Public Employees Relations Commission.

Then the employer, in this case the school district, would have a right to challenge the application, said John Showalter, an attorney for the commission. Ultimately, the three-member commission must approve the union.

The vote on whether to apply will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 6 atEdgewater High School.

Superintendent Dennis Smith said the school district has a good relationship with substitutes, and he sees no need for a union. Medical coverage would be prohibitively expensive, he said.

Substitutes are unique because they work when they want to, said John Hanson, director of risk management for the school district.

It would be an ``administrative nightmare'' to keep track of who works enough hours to qualify for benefits, Hanson said.

Showalter said he is not aware of a union that represents only substitutes.

To be eligible for union status, employees must show a ``reasonable expectation of continued employment,'' according to Department of Labor rules. Showalter said he is not sure substitute teachers meet that qualification.